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3.2 Significant Figures

The document discusses the rules and importance of significant figures, which are used to indicate the accuracy of measurements. It explains that the more significant figures a number has, the more precise it is. It also covers how to properly round numbers to a given number of significant figures using five basic rules.

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112 views17 pages

3.2 Significant Figures

The document discusses the rules and importance of significant figures, which are used to indicate the accuracy of measurements. It explains that the more significant figures a number has, the more precise it is. It also covers how to properly round numbers to a given number of significant figures using five basic rules.

Uploaded by

S K TAn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

2
Significant
Figures
What are Significant Figures?

Significant figures are used to show the accuracy of a number.


The greater the number of significant figures, the more accurate
is the number.
2 cm

Which is
more
accurate?
2.3 cm
5 Rules

Rule 1: All non-zero digits are significant.


Practise Now
State the number of significant
7 2 5 8 figures in

(a) 192

2nd sig fig (b) 83.76


4th sig fig
1st sig fig 3rd sig fig (c) 3

(d) 4.5
5 Rules

Rule 2: All zeros between non-zeros digits are significant.


Practise Now
State the number of significant
7 2 . 0 8 figures in

(a) 506

2nd sig fig (b) 1.099


4th sig fig
1st sig fig 3rd sig fig (c) 3.0021

(d) 70.8001
5 Rules

Rule 3: In a decimal, all zeros after a non-zero digit are significant.

1 sig fig 2 sig fig


Therefore, more accurate
5 Rules

Rule 3: In a decimal, all zeros after a non-zero digit are significant.


Practise Now
State the number of significant figures in

(a) 0.10

(b) 0.500

(c) 41.0320

(d) 6.090
5 Rules

Rule 4: In a decimal, all zeros before a non-zero digit are not


significant.

This zero is not significant


5.7 cm
(2 sig fig)

5.7 cm = 5.7/100 = 0.057 m


(2 sig fig) (2 sig fig)
5 Rules

Rule 4: In a decimal, all zeros before a non-zero digit are not


significant.
Practise Now
State the number of significant figures in

(a) 0.021

(b) 0.603

(c) 0.00173

(d) 0.1090
5 Rules

Rule 5: In whole number, the zeros at the end may or may not be
significant. It depends on how the numbers are approximated.

Correct 7498 to the nearest hundred: 7500 to 2 sig fig


Practise Now
State the number of significant figures in

Correct 7498 to the nearest ten: 7500 to 3 sig fig (a) 3800 m (to the nearest 10 m)

(b) 25 000 km (to the nearest km)

(c) 100 000 g (to the nearest 10 000 g)


Rounding Off
Worked Example 4

Round off each of the following to the number of significant figures as given.

(a) 8982 (2 s.f.)


+1

8 9 8 2 = 9 0 0 0
2nd sig fig Put zeros as place holder
1st sig fig
Since 5 or more,
Add 1 to previous digit
Rounding Off
Worked Example 4

Round off each of the following to the number of significant figures as given.

b) 0.006 019 5 (4 s.f.)


+1

0.0060195 = 0.006020
4th sig fig Put zeros to indicate the
Since 5 or more, 4th s.f.
Add 1 to previous digit
Rounding Off
Worked Example 4

Round off each of the following to the number of significant figures as given.

c) 0.9999 (3 s.f.)
+1

0.9999 = 1.000 = 1.00


3rd sig fig This zero is the 3rd sig fig
Since 5 or more, 4th s.f. x
Add 1 to previous digit
Practise Now 4
1. Round off each of the following to the number of significant figures
as given.

(a) 3748 (3 s.f.) (b) 0.004 709 89 (4 s.f.)


(c) 4971 (2 s.f.) (d) 0.099 99 (2 s.f. and 3 s.f.)

2. The number 67 0X1 is equal to 67 100, correct to 3 significant


figures. Find the value of X if 67 0X1 is a perfect square.
Rounding in Real Life

Suppose 215 students and 5 teachers are going for a picnic by bus
and each bus can only carry 30 people. How many buses are
needed. Why?
Rounding in Real Life

If the total cost of all your purchases in the supermarket is $12.03,


how much do you need to pay to the cashier?
Rounding in Real Life

A lift can only carry a maximum mass of 897 kg. If you are to round
this figure to the nearest 100 kg, what would be the value?
Homework

Do Exercise 3b Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9


in page 71-72 of your textbook.

Do it in an exercise book.

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